Clothes feeding device



Oct. 24, 1939. F WOODROW 2,177,397

CLOTHES FEEDING DEVICE Filed June 19, 1957 47/ FWav 767/ Y -Y- UNI TED STATES Patented Oct. 24, 1939 PATENT OFFICE 2,177,397 CLOTHES FEEDING DEVICE Ivan F. Woodrow, Newton, Iowa Application June 19, 1937, Serial No. 149,137

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a manual clothes feeding device adapted to be used by the operators of the well-known domestic washing machines having roll wringing devices for the extraction of the wash and rinse water from the clothes.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide the operator of a domestic washing machine with a manual clothes feeding device so constructed as to absolutely prevent any possibility of the operators fingers being caught between the wringer rolls during the feeding of the clothes thereto.

Another object of my invention is to provide a clothes inserting device for wringers fashioned to be conveniently carried on the back of the operators hand without detracting from usefulness of the hand during other washing and wringing operations.

A further object of my invention is in a clothes feeding device having a tapered flexible clothes inserting portion with a releasable finger securing portion attached thereto or formed as part thereof.

Other objects of my invention will appear in the following specification when taken in connection vn'th the attached drawing of which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view showing the actual manner in which my clothes feeding device is used;

Fig, 2 is a plan view of the device;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the same.

Before referring specifically to the drawing for a detailed description of my clothes feeding device, it would seem advisable to describe the usually well-known devices which are used to feed clothes to a wringer.

Of course, the oldest and best known method universally used is for the operator to force the clothes'into the moving rolls of the wringer with her fingers.

A number of devices for feeding the clothes to the rolls by means attached to the wringer have also been used, but these devices fail in that they lack the nicety of adjustment required in feeding clothes and other fabrics of varying size and weight. These devices include feeding members secured to or pivoted upon the wringer frame, feeding troughs, etc.

Other devices for this same purpose might be classed as feeding sticks of one form or another which the operator uses to force the clothes into the bite of the rolls.

All of the above devices fail either for lack of delicate adjustability and ease of use, or because they become unhandy during the other washing and wringing operations. For instance, the feeding sticks must be dropped when the operator needs both her hands to guide the clothes and possibly to reverse and again start the wringer rolls for one of many reasons.

It is believed that applicants device overcomes the above well-known disadvantages to clothes feeding devices and permits the use of the operators hand for the usual washing efforts, while at the same time permitting a delicate adjustment of the clothes into the bite of the wringer rolls.

Now referring to the drawing, we find a feeding plug 19 tapered from the actual clothes inserting end back to a base portion II. The plug i0 is preferably formed of a flexible material to give a greater degree of adjustment to the clothes as they are forced into the wringer rolls.

Rearwardly of the base or protector portion II is a finger gripping portion l2 formed in such a manner that the apertures for the fingers are not completely closed, as shown at l2. The finger gripping portion is formed of a flexible material which permits the fingers not only to be Withdrawn therefrom, but more effectively to be jerked directly from gripping engagement without the necessity of withdrawal. The base portion so conforms with the tapered insertion end as to prevent passage of the feeding device through the wringer rolls, but the fright attending the catching of the clothes inserting medium, whether the fingers or an auxiliary member in the rolls is attended by a desire to jerk the hand away from the wringer and in this instance the substantial closing of the gripping aperture by a flexible material permits direct Withdrawal of the hand.

The operation of the device in view of the above description is believed to be entirely clear. However, the actual manner of using the feeder is shown clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawing. It will be particularly noted that the disposition of applicant's clothes feeding device on the rear of applicants hand, or rather the fingers, permits practically unobstructed use of the hand for all of the other clothes washing and wringer operations.

While I have illustrated and described what is at present a preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood and appreciated that the invention is susceptible of various other embodiments and modifications bearing little constructional resemblance to the construction illustrated. Consequently, I do not desire to be limited to the details of construction illustrated and described, but only by the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A manual clothes feeding device for roll Wringers comprising a clothes inserting member and a finger gripping portion, said finger gripping portion being fashioned of flexible material open laterally and vertically for the reception of the fingers permitting direct withdrawal of the fingers.

2. A manual clothes feeding device for roll wringers comprising a clothes inserting member, a laterally and vertically apertured finger gripping portion permitting the inserting member to be readily carried on the back of the hand, and means included in said gripping portion to permit direct withdrawal of the fingers without ungripping,

3. A manual clothes feeding device for roll wringers comprising a flexible clothes inserting member, a substantially flat back section permitting the inserting member to be readily carried on the back of the hand, and means including a flexible portion having lateral and vertical openings permitting instant release of the fingers.

4. A clothes feeding device integrally formed of flexible material including a tapered clothes feeding section, a relatively flat back section adjoining said tapered section, and laterally and vertically apertured finger gripping rings extending from said flat section whereby the device may be carried on the back of the hand when not in service and the fingers may be withdrawn without ungripping in case of accident when in service.

IVAN F. WOODROW. 

